The Frenchman, though, is not convinced he will be warmly welcomed in Manchester.

Given Arsenal's issues on the road-they have lost all their away league matches in 2018-and their focus on the Europa League, it's tough to see anything other than a United triumph here.

And now he has dropped a fantastic bombshell by revealing he once held talks with Manchester United about taking over as manager when Alex Ferguson was set to retire. Astoundingly, Wenger's last league win against United at Old Trafford came in 2006, when Emmanuel Adebayor struck a late victor.

"Yes, I met (former United chairman) Martin Edwards", Wenger told a press conference ahead of Arsenal's trip to Old Trafford in the league today. Many people came to see me in my home.

Ferguson eventually retired at the end of the 2012-13 campaign.

"And I think Manchester United fans know that until 2004, for about a decade, it was between Manchester United and Arsenal. But I was loyal to this club".

Luis Enrique has been on a yearlong sabbatical ever since calling it quits with the Catalonian club in the summer of 2017 but is now keen on returning to management favoring a move to the Premier League.

Wenger has claimed that he wants a "peaceful" ending tomorrow to one of the Premier League's most intense feuds. It is understood that Marcello Lippi earns £18 million annually as the China national team coach, with no manager in world football earning more.

Arsenal head into Sunday's game on the back of their 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final tie last week.

Speaking ahead of the game, the former Monaco man said, "It has been, like with Ferguson, very tense like always when you fight together".

Henrikh Mkhitaryan's recovery comes a little too late to face the club he left in January, while Mohemed Elneny is also sidelined with ligament damage.

Wenger said: "I respect him of course, I respect him a lot".

Sanchez has had a slow start to life at Old Trafford, but he showed what he is capable of with a key goal against Spurs at Wembley.

"We go into every game with the same mentality that we have to win". Arsenal will have to play at the Wanda Metropolitano on Thursday and it going to be the most important game for the Gunners this season.

"Once I've finished honestly I don't know", Wenger said. "That is the way I would remember him", he added. Maybe it's better to play. United are nearly guaranteed second, but can not reach the top; Arsenal have nearly secured sixth, but are extremely unlikely to snatch fifth.